Film shipping case



Jan. 27, 1953 J, ASH 2,626,705

FILM SHIPPING CASE Filed March 4, 1950 2 SHEETSJSHEET 1 IN VEN TOR. Jimv :1 Au:

y, Dmwn/ Jan. 27, .1953 J. J. AsH

FILM SHIPPING CASE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 4, 1950 R WA mm. M J.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Claims.

This invention relates to. a case and more specifically to a case inwhich reels of movie film are placed for shipping and storage.

Reels of moving picture film must by necessity be frequently transportedabout the country from theater to theater and stored for considerablelengths of time. Such a film is quite valuable and much time and moneylost if it is damaged. Often, due to rough handling in shipping, sharpobjects dentthe cases and film s d y s to make the film practicallyuseless; the flanges of the reels may be bent together and the filmloosened from the reel by such treatment. Cases of present typesare'entirely inadequate to guard the film and reels from this type ofdamage.

An object of myinvention is to provide an improved case which willprotect the enclosed film and reels from damage due to denting of thecontainer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved case in whichthe reels of film are shock-mounted.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved case in whichbending togetherof the reel flanges is resisted.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved case in which anumber of reels may be carried without damaging contact with each other.

A further object of my invention provides for a case in which reels offilm may be transported without loosening of the film.

A further object of the invention provides for a case in which both fulland partly filled reels may be intermixed without disadvantage.

A still further object of my invention provides for a case which iseconomical and simple in manufacture. e

Further objects and features of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description.

In the drawings, which illustrate two embodiments of my'invention. andin which like numerals refer to like parts throughout,

Fig. 1 is a top view/of my container adapted to carry three reels;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III i'F aZ-" i Fig. 4 is.a. sectional view of a modification of mv cqntainer adapted to carry aine l. t t n ein ake similarly to Fi 3. and

Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of'Fig. 4 and show a dent in u i eo a n r by a sharp instrument.

Referring to Figs. 1,, 2 and 3 my threeereel case comprises an uppersection I and a lower section 2, connected by means of a link hinge 3and provided with a lock 4.

The upper section 1 is composed of sides 5 and extended portions 5 and Iwhich carry parts of previously-mentioned lock 4 and hinge 3. Sides 5and extensions 6 and l are preferably formed from a strip of sheet metalbent to the desired shape. End walls 8 are identical in size and shapeand are extended and bent over to form flanges I 0 to which are weldedsides 5 and extended sides 5 and 1.

Attached to the uppermost side 5 is a carrying handle ll.

Lock 4 is protected by guards l2 to prevent damage should the case beaccidentally set down on the lock or should an externalobject contactThe lower section 2 is composed of a sheet metal strip bent to formsides l3, and identical end walls M which are extended and bent over toform flanges l5 to which are welded sides l3. Flanges l5 on side |3balso carry the lower part of hinge 3 at It, and side l3a carries part oflock 4 at ll. Attached by spot welding to the lowermost side [3 oppositehandle I I is a base piece H! on which to rest the case.

The inside of the case is lined with heavy paper or cardboard 20 toprotect the reels from damage should they contact the walls or sides ofthe case. Through the liner 20, metal filler strips I9 project, onebeing spot welded to each of the sides 5 and I3 in order that springshereinafter described may be firmly attached to the sides by spotwelding to the strips. It is to be understood that apertures could bemade in the liner and the springs attached directly to the sides byweldingfriveting', or bolting. I'show welding through filler stripsmerely as a preferred method in "this'instancej Means is provided tohold the reels oi film separated from each other and without contactwith the walls or sides of the case. In the preferred embodiment shownand described, such means consists of half-elliptical spring steelstrips 2|, spot welded to filler strips I9 at ends 2m. The ends Zlbremote from filler strips l9 are rolled or curved so that they may slideeasily along theliner 20 as the springs 21 are flattened by pressure.With no such pressure present, each spring 2| assumes the shape shown indotted linesv on the lower side ii in Fig. 2.

In my multi-reel case, each group of springs mounted in side by siderelationship (Fig. 3) forms a spring group and is hereinafter referredto as such. The number of springs in a group is, of course, equal to thenumber of reels to be contained in the case.

The reel and film shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 form no part of myinvention per se, and are shown only to illustrate the various featuresand advantages of my case.

A standard moving picture film reel comprises a hub 22 by means of whichthe reel is held on the projection machine, and parallel circularflanges 23 extending radially outward from the hub 22 and between whichthe film 24 is retained. The flanges 23 being large and supported onlyat the center, they may be easily bent inward with resultant damage tothe film. The reel is constructed to allow a clearance space between theflanges and film.

In my invention I make the springs 2| of greater width than the film butless than the distance between the reel flanges. Thus, when a reelcontaining film is placed in my case, the springs fit between the reelflange and against the film. In efiect, the film is supported in thecase by direct engagement with the springs, and so the film cannotunwind or loosen from the reel.

As shown in Fig. 3, I leave a space 25 between the several springs 2| ofa spring group so that the reels are spaced from each other andindividually supported. Thus there is no possibility of a reel beingdeformed by the weight of the others should the case be tipped over, norcan a shock be transmitted by contact between the reels.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a single-reel case similar in constructionto the three-reel case previously described, the primary diiierencesbeing that the filler strips and the sheet metal strips forming thesides are narrower than in the three reel case and only one spring isattached to each filler strip. That is, side extensions I311 and 13b inFigs. 4 and 5 and filler strips (hidden) are substantially one-third aswide as extensions Ba and [3b and filler strips I9 shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3. Again, spaces 25 are provided between the reel and the case, sothat the reel-film unit is supported only by springs 2|, and no art ofthe reel touches the case.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the end wall 14 of my single-reel case beingdented by a sharp object 25. toward the reel but, due to the space 25between reel and end wall M, the reel and film are not damaged. Were theblow even heavier, flanges 23 would still not damage the film becausespring 2!, being wider than the film, acts as a spacer to keep theflanges from pinching together. The flanges 23 are thus bridged betweenthe reel hub 22 and the unyielding dimension of springs 25.

In operation the weight of the film and reel pressing against springs 2|tends to flatten out the springs and causes the free end 21b of eachspring to move along the paper-lined side 20. The springs on thevertical sides (Fig. 2) are ar ranged pointing downward, as are those onthe slanting sides of the lower section 2. Thus when the reel is placedin the lower section, the springs slide with the reel rather thanagainst it. Similarly, the springs on the slanting sides of the uppersection I point upward. As the upper section is closed down on the reeland film, there is a minimum of friction between the film and springs.When the reel is not full, the springs would be flattened to a lesserdegree, but the reel would still ride in approximately the same positionin the case with each spring in contact with The heavy paper lining 20is bent inward the film to prevent any loosening or unwinding.

I have shown and described my three-reel case merely to illustrate thefeatures embodied in a multi-reel case, which can be made to hold two,three or more reels. Therefore, I do not limit my invention to thesingle and three-reel cases.

From the foregoing detailed description of two embodiments of myinvention, it is apparent that I have provided an improved case whichwill effectively protect the films and reels from damage, each reelbeing individually suspended on springs thus protecting the film andreel as well as keeping the film wound tightly on the reel.

In the preferred embodiments of my case, I have constructed itprincipally of sheet metal because of each of manufacture, durability,and trength. However, it is to be understood that various parts could beconstructed of material other than metal and in no sense do I limitmyself to the metallic type of construction.

While I have made my case of octagonal shape, it is anticipated that itcould be of various shapes. In the same sense, the number of springsprovided is not limited.

Various changes in details and arrangement of parts can be made by oneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a motion picture film reel and case of the class wherein a reelhastwo substantially parallel circular flanges supported by andextending radially outward from a hub, a film wound on said reel betweensaid flanges, the case having two substantially parallel end walls ofgreater perimeter than said reel, a plurality of sides connected withand spacing said end walls, said case being divided adjacent a diameterof said reel into upper and lower sections, and means separably joiningsaid sections, the combination with said case of a plurality of springstrips mounted one on the interior face of each of said sides andprojecting along its associated side, each of said spring strips beingof half-elliptical configuration convex inwardly to engage the peripheryof said wound film and of a width less than the separation of theflanges of said reel butgreater than the width of said film, each ofsaid spring strips attached to a side on one end and slidably engagingthe same side on the'other end, whereby said flanges form a bridgebetween said hub and the unyielding dimension of said springs when saidreel is placed in said case, and whereby said spring strips resilientlymount the reel in spaced relation to said side and end Walls.

2. In motion picture film, reels and a case therefor of the classwherein each reel has two substantially parallel circular flangessupported by and extending radially outward from a hub, a film wound oneach reel between said flanges, a case having two substantially parallelend walls of greater perimeter than each reel, a plurality of sidesconnected with and spacing said end walls, said case being dividedadjacent the, diameters of said reels into upper and lower sections, andmeans separably joining said sections, the combination with said case ofa plurality of spring strips mounted in side-by-side relationship on theinterior face of each of said sides projecting along said side, thenumber of said spring strips mounted on each of said sides being equalto the number of reels to be contained in said case, each of said springstrips being of halfelliptical configuration convex inwardly to engagethe periphery of said wound film and of a width less than the separationof the flanges of each reel but greater than the width of said film,each of said spring strips attached to a side on one end and slidablyengaging the same side on the other end, whereby said flanges of eachreel form a bridge between said hub and the unyielding dimension of saidsprings when said reel is placed in said case, and whereby said springstrips resiliently mount each reel in spaced relation to said side andend walls and to the other reels in said case.

3. A film case as set forth in claim 2, wherein said springs on thedownwardly extending sides of said lower section are fastened at theirupper ends and said springs on the downwardly extending sides of saidupper section are fastened at their lower ends whereby to reducefriction between said film and springs when placing said reel in saidcase.

4. In combination, a film reel having parallel circular flangessupported by and extending radially outward from a hub; film wound onsaid reel; a case having walls and containing said reel; inwardlydirected spring strips on the inside of said case, all of said stripslying in a common plane; each strip being attached at one end to theinside of said case, being of half-elliptical configuration convexinwardly and extending between said fianges to engage said film, beingslidably engaged with said case at its other end and being of a widthless than the separation of the flanges of said reel but greater thanthe width of said film; whereby said spring strips-mount said reel inspaced relation to the walls of the case, prevent the flanges frompinching and damaging the film, and prevent the film from unwinding.

5. In a motion picture film reel and case of the class wherein a reelhas two substantially parallel circular flanges supported by andextending radially outward from a hub, said flanges being spaced apartto receive a film of predetermined width, the case having twosubstantially parallel end walls of greater perimeter than said reel, aplurality of sides connected with and spacing said end walls, said casebeing divided adjacent a diameter of said reel into upper and lowersections, and means separately joining said sections; the combinationwith said case of a plurality of spring strips mounted one on theinterior face of each of said sides and projecting along its associatedside, each of said spring strips being of half-elliptical configurationconvex inwardly to engage the periphery of a film wound on said reel,said spring strips being of a width less than the separation of saidflanges of said reel but greater than the predetermined width of thefilm, each of said spring strips being attached to a side on one end andhaving a distance from end to end of said spring less than the length ofthe associated side, whereby said flanges form a bridge between said huband the unyielding dimension of said springs when said reel is placed insaid case, and whereby said spring strips resiliently mount the reel inspaced relation to said side and end walls.

JOHN J. ASH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 25, 1906

